[Harp-L] Re: Harmonica shelf space, prices

[Steve Baker <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In the late 80s / early 90s I had a partnership with a friend who had  
a music store in Hamburg, before the advent of online sales. My side  
of the deal was choosing stock, placing orders, sending out mail  
order and being available one afternoon a week for consultation &  
repairs. At first we had a nice display cabinet which was prominently  
placed next to the counter, and a fairly large window display. We  
sold a considerable quantity of harps. As time passed, my friend  
began stocking ever more guitar accessories such as effect units and  
needed somewhere to display them, so he started using the display  
space in the cabinet and the window which was formerly used for  
harps. Harmonica sales fell in direct proportion to the size of the  
display.

I know of only one bricks & mortar music store in Germany where  
harmonica players receive really competent service. This is because  
the guy who runs the brass department plays himself and also does  
repairs. Virtually all music stores see harmonicas somewhere on the  
level of recorders or kazoos and lack the most basic competence  
regarding the instrument. Sadly, this doesn't really seem to matter,  
as most of their customers tend to be casual players or impulse  
buyers. Today this automatically leads "serious" (hahaha) players to  
seek out more reliable sources, unless they have a friendly personal  
relationship wih people in a good professional shop who will order  
what they require, give them decent prices and ensure a basic level  
of service. By and large the online shops are a godsend for harmonica  
players. If good music stores had staff who knew something about the  
instrument, however, in my experience they could certainly increase  
their sales due to the improved service. It would be difficult for  
them to compete with online shops pricewise though, due to the higher  
costs of running a bricks & mortar business.

Regarding the rising cost of Marine Bands, for many years Hohner  
harmonicas were routinely sold in the USA at prices which were about  
the same or even slightly less than European wholesale prices. What  
is now happening is that you guys are having to pay the same prices  
as everybody else. When I see how long the current Hohner Classic  
reeds last, I wouldn't say that the instruments are overpriced in  
comparison to other brands. I have yet to find a harmonica I like  
better. Please don't think that the Hohner company is run by greedy  
ogres intent on gouging harmonica players, they just have to  
calculate cost-effectively in order to stay in business,

Steve